Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-05-27
The American Board and the Reject
ed Candidates


Mr.. w. II. Noyes, two sons of mission
aries, who have been fitting themselves at
Andover seminary for the ministry and
especially for missionary service, have at
tracted wide attention. AS the close of
their studies at the seminary drew near
they made application to the prudential
committee of the American Board to be
sent out as missionaries. They were ex-
amined by Secretary Alden, with especial
reference to the point of their belief on
the subject of a possible future probation
for such of the heather as have never had
an opportunity to hear of Christ in this
life, and were asked to make written
statement of their belief on this point.
This they did, avowing that they found
support in Scripture for hope that some
of the myriads of heather who never
heard of Christ in this life might have in
a future state an opportunity to accept
Him as their redeemer and that they held
the hypothesis of possible continued pro-
baton. They were informed that if they
would give up this hypothesis they would
be accepted-a somewhat singular propos-
ition to make to conscientious men,
who had announced what they be-
lieved to be the Scriptural doc
trine on the subject AS, however, this
particular dogma had no especial promi-
hence in their minds, and as their views
on this subject were not, volunteered.
were wholly subordinate to their faith
in the great and unquestioned truths of
the Gospel as held by all evangelical
Christians, and were given only in answer
to DR.. Alden's examinations, they natu-
rally thought it not impossible that the
committee had supposed that they at
tached undue Importance to this partic-
ular topic. They therefore renewed their
application; making fresh and fuller
statement of their theological opinions, in
which their view respecting the possibli-
ties for the heather in the intermediate
state took the subordinate position it &C
tually does take in their own system of
faith. Their statement showed that the
young men are not "cranks" or semi
Universalists," nor likely to disturb the
harmony of any mission field to which
they might go, nor disbelievers in the
common sinfulness and ruin of the race,
nor believers in any second probation, nor
ambitious to advocate a new theology"
nor to engage in any doubtful disputa-
chief emphasis were their belief in the
sinfulness and ruin of the race, and their
desire to carry the Gospel of Christ's re-
deeming love to the nations that sit in
darkness, and they thought that they
ought not to be refused because they hold
that eternal destiny is determined by the
acceptance or rejection of Christ, and
that it is probable that opportunity to &C
cept or reject him may be offered sooner
or later to all men.
This statement however, was without
avail. The committee, by, as it is known,
a majority vote, and in opposition to the
desire of Secretary Clark, sustained Secre
tary Alden land the latter announced to the
young gentlemen their final rejection,
assigning as the reason for this action the
resolution adopted by the Board at Des
Moines, which he says leaves the com
mittee no option but to decline to APP
point candidates who hold the hypothesis
in question. The decision is a matter of
some consequence in the Congregational
body, as it will affect large number of
young persons, who have been looking
forward to missionary service. In the
three most important theological schools
of the Congregational denomination in
New England, such hypothesis is allow
ed and is accepted by the mass of the
students in them. The same, as we I'M
derstand, is the case in two or three other
Congregational theological seminaries,
outside of New England. The Board will
consequently not be likely to receive
offers for missionary service from the
yonng men in these seminaries. And the
large number OF Congregational churches
which disapprove of this proscriptive
course of the prudential committee, may
yet have something to say.
1t has been suggested that if Mr.. Torrey
and Mr.. Noyes were to now present them
selves for examination as to their theo-
churches, which should certify to their
orthodoxy and back their request to be
sent out by the Board, the prudential
committee might be induced to reverse
its action. There would seem, however,
to be little likelihood of that. The scope
and meaning of the Des Moines resolution
will probably have to be defined by the
Board Itself, before any change can be
effected in DR.. Alden's methods or de-
cisions. If the Board should sustain him
fully in his course, considerable portion
of the Congregational body will be likely
to withdraw the support they have hith-
erto cordially rendered to the American
Board
A Proposed Financial Movement.
The New York Commercial Aduer-
tiSer, which is excellent authority on all
financial questions, announces that GER
tain capitalists are engaged in perfecting
the details of scheme tor transferring
the chief seat of the worlds traffic in sill
yer bullion from London to New York.
The project, it is said, originated with the
managers of the Western National bank,
of which Hon. Daniel Manning is presi-
dent. Large deposits of silver are to be
invited, either at the bank or elsewhere,
and represented by certificates. as grain
and stock certificates now are in Chicago
and New York. The plan includes the
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